A WAY TO EXPERIENCE AND MAKE SENSE OF AN ARTISTIC JOURNEY

With Sherri and Mandy away on vacation, and Jonathan and Lorena exhausted from an excursion to the Museum of Natural History the day before, it is anyone’s guess whether Jonathan and Lorena will have the energy to attend rehearsal today. True professionals to the end, though, they rally and arrive at the studio. OK, yes, they are dragging themselves in – but they are here!

As our followers know by now, it is quite a challenge to warm-up when the kids want a piece of the action. However, Sherri and Mandy are usually present to assist with child diversion tactics. Today, Jonathan and Lorena are on their own. Not surprisingly, they soon wave the white flag after a couple of attempts at exercises. When all else fails, time to just dance across-the-floor. Sure enough, their delight in moving freely gives them a jolt of energy that carries them into work on Jonathan’s piece.

Jonathan admits he does not yet have a clear vision, context, or meaning for this new section in which Lorena will dance a solo. Yet, he harbors a specific vision -- “like an asterisk” -- of Lorena jumping into the space as an opening movement. Thinking this is not enough to go on, Jonathan takes a few minutes to work out other ideas in his own body. Alas, it’s just not working. He realizes he is overthinking and trying too hard -- a deadly combination. He finally tells himself to work on the jump that keeps popping into his head. Sure enough, an entire phrase flows effortlessly, once he gives himself permission to “trust his muse.”

​By the end of their work on this section, Jonathan and Lorena are really happy with the beautiful phrase they have created. They remind themselves – not for the first time, of course -- to allow the work to come from an organic place.

Jonathan Riedel, Choreographer and Artistic Director of Riedel Dance Theater, began choreographing professionally in 1999. In 2002, he staged his breakaway hit,The Unsightful Nanny, on the Limón Dance Company, and in 2003 he founded Riedel Dance Theater, presenting its inaugural season in NYC and Italy. His work quickly became known for its taut, intelligent humor and poignant dramatic power. DanceView Times proclaimed it “brilliant," "profoundly moving," and having "an ingenuity and timing that would make Petipa jealous." ​READ MORE